4.17 The way of action is deep Krishna speaks
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः
karmaṇo hyapi boddhavyaṁ boddhavyaṁ cha vikarmaṇaḥ
akarmaṇaśh cha boddhavyaṁ gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ
One must understand action, and also what should not be done, and also inaction. The way of action is deep.
Explanation
The way of action is deep.
One must understand action, and what should not be done, and inaction — three things, not two.
gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ: deep, hard to fathom. The verse does not explain; it warns, which is the Gita preparing the ground for the line that follows.
Word by word
- karmaṇaḥ
- recommended action
- hi
- certainly
- api
- also
- boddhavyam
- should be known
- boddhavyam
- must understand
- cha
- and
- vikarmaṇaḥ
- forbidden action
- akarmaṇaḥ
- inaction
- cha
- and
- boddhavyam
- must understand
- gahanā
- profound
- karmaṇaḥ
- of action
- gatiḥ
- the true path
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